Sick of SIC.

My favorite YouTube video of all time is from a Spotify podcast called “Dissect”.

This podcast takes deep dives into all sorts of music content.

As I have mentioned on this site before, and for those of you who know me, my connection to Mac Miller’s music runs deep.

The emotions and struggles he spoke of and portrayed through his musical journey, especially in his last two albums before and after his passing (Swimming and Circles), will always sit near and dear to my heart and ears.

I have never connected with a human so much that I’ve never met in person.

This YouTube video, taken from a portion of the podcast Dissect, goes into detail about the connection between the two albums I mentioned: Swimming and Circles. (The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/dEM7tiOym54?si=FoCA7Bj_qSBNsQVb)

Rather, I should present it as Swimming IN Circles, as that was the concept Mac Miller was going for on these albums, but he tragically passed away from an accidental drug overdose at the age of 26 before being able to complete Circles.

I’ll spare the details of the deep-dive so you can watch it yourself, but in summary the two albums, especially their opening and closing tracks, speak on the battles of choosing to sink or swim through the hardships of life, addiction, etc.

Mac, in a repeated fashion, speaks on no matter how much he tries to change his ways, he ends up right back where he started.

A circle.

This circle encompasses so many feelings and phases, but the Circles album musically, and thematically, goes in a circle as well.

A touching way to present a piece of art.

When I think about all of the deep connections I’ve found myself in while listening to these two albums from Mac, I reflect on the power of being “sick of SIC.”

SIC = Swimming in Circles.

I have battled with bad habits, addiction, emotional hardships, and more in my life. We all go through these things and it feels really hard to keep swimming in it every day.

It’s amazing, as humans, how we know that things are bad for us but we do them anyway.

In Romans 7:15, Paul speaks on a heartbreaking subject:

 “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”

We have all felt like Paul.

It hurts our body, mind, soul, and spirit. We can’t comprehend why we see the pain and suffering that these things do to our lives, but we also can’t seem to let them go.

Swimming in circles.

At a certain point, something happens in life where we awaken.

Our body, mind, soul, and spirit align in saying “I can’t live this way anymore.”

At this point, I hope we can turn to these parts of our beings and make the right decision.

Listen: Your being is seeking help, relief, joy, and peace.

The experience(s) we go through in life to reach the point of “Sick of SIC” is oftentimes the hardest, most painful experience(s).

I believe they need to happen, as much as they hurt.

If it weren’t for mine, I would probably still be SIC.

Choosing to swim is one thing.

Choosing to live is another.

I hope we all choose to listen.

NS

“I believe a few words can change your day and your life.”